Frank & Bernadina (Benz) Neumann

Historic Plate Picturing the Neuman Farm

Frank Neuman, son of Carl and Anna Christins, migrated from Germany in 1867 with his mother and sister. He agreed to purchase an 80 acre tract of land from the Wisconsin Central Railroad in September of 1876 and bought the land January 6, 1877. He married Bernadina Benz April 30, 1877, at Iron Ridge, Wis. and returned to the farm they were to build together. They had six children, Herman,, Frank Jr., and Carl, all farmed later in life. Ida married Herman Seefeldt who also farmed. Two girls, Bertha and Martha, died at an early age. In 1899 Frank purchased an additional 40 acres from Julius Hahn to make the farm 120 acres, its present size. Son Carl and his wife, Ida, bought the farm from Frank in 191 1. They had four children, Albert, Herman, Esther, and Carl. They operated the farm until 1937 when it was sold to Herman and his wife Ruth. They were to have three children, Beverly, Kenneth, and Gerald. After returning from service in .1967, Gerald started making plans to take over the farm. In 1968 he married his wife, Jane, and together they purchased the farm and started increasing its production. With the availability of extra land to rent, they increased the herd to 40 cows, plus young stock, and in the past year started to feed out some dairy beef. Many improvements have been and are still being made. There are several farms in the area that have been in the family for many years--Delmer Toltzman (92 years), Virgil Seefeld (92 years), Kenneth Mellienthin (92 years), Leo Dommer (85 years), Calvin Johnson (80 years). The oldest farm in the township, though no longer in the family, we believe is the Ayer's farm, started 110 years ago. It was later Art Wisnoske's farm and is now owned by Mr. Davel.